Some drummers like going full force into their playing with bare hands, though for others, the protection of a quality pair of drum gloves can provide the confidence they need to rock out.
Some of the most popular drummers in the world, such as Stewart Copeland from The Police, Tommy Lee from Motley Crue, Phil Rudd from AC/DC, Dave Grohl (when playing with Them Crooked Vultures) and Carter Beauford from the Dave Matthews Band, use drum gloves to absorb shocks and blisters as they play night after night.
You can find a list of the top 20 professional drummers who use drum gloves here.
Today, we’re going to dive in and take a look at some of the best drum gloves on the market and see why drum gloves are becoming one of the more popular drum accessories! And be sure to check out this article if you're looking for other great gift ideas for drummers.
Note: This article may contain affiliate links, meaning I would receive a commission - at no cost to you - for any products you purchase.
Why Use Drum Gloves?
There are many reasons to use drum gloves.
For starters, they can improve your grip on the drumsticks, allowing you to drum with more precision and confidence.
Secondly, they can absorb shocks every time you hit the drum, helping you avoid pain and blisters, especially if you’re playing night after night. And if you get high quality drum gloves, they may even have extra padding so you don't feel the impact as much.
Third, some feature a loop wrist strap or wrist support bands that help minimize repetitive strain, which can help protect your long term health.
Lastly, they’re great for use in cold temperatures. Many drummers find that their hands hurt after playing cold, outdoor gigs night after night. With the right set of drum gloves, you can give your hands a break when they need them most.
Most Affordable Drum Gloves - Meinl Half Finger Drummer Gloves
Protecting yourself from blisters and calluses is one reason you might consider getting drum gloves. Of course, you might also prefer the feel of your bare hands on the drum sticks. This is where the Meinl Half-Finger Drum Gloves (free shipping for Amazon Prime members) come into play.
These gloves offer a wonderful half-and-half solution to protection and feel. The half finger design means that the top of your index finger and the first two knuckles of your fingers are free to precisely control the sticks.
These unique gloves are made to protect your finger joints and palms, protecting you from the worst blisters and injuries, though leaving your fingers free so you are more connected with your drumsticks.
They are also some of the most breathable gloves on our list, perfect for playing sweaty indoor gigs! They have a breathable mesh on the top and a synthetic leather bottom that ensures a good grip.
The beauty of these gloves is how lightweight they feel. Plus, they don’t cost an exorbitant amount like some drumming gloves, so you won’t have to feel any buyer’s remorse while you’re rocking out. These are the ideal solution for drummers on a tight budget, or drummers who want to try out drum gloves without spending a lot of money.
Note that they aren’t the most durable gloves on this list, so if you find yourself drumming often, you may need to get a sturdier set. However, for traditional drummers who are all about connecting with their instruments, these are some of the best gloves on the market today. Also note that this pair of gloves tends to run a little small. Some people report that these gloves leave black marks on their hands, but most folks seem to get away without a problem.
Most Luxurious Drumming Glove - Vic Firth Drumming Glove
Vic Firth is one of the most popular drumstick manufacturers in the world, so it makes sense that the company also manufactures some of the most popular drumming gloves. The Vic Firth Drumming Gloves are full-fingered gloves that provide total protection at an affordable cost. The quality is solid, and they feel great on the hands.
The material is a combination of synthetic mesh and leather, featuring premium cabretta leather with ventilated synthetic mesh palm and back. With a combination of lightness and comfort, it almost feels like you’re wearing a second pair of hands. Note that they are a bit thinner than some of the gloves on this list. While you’ll certainly get a better feel out of them, they might not last a long time if you’re drumming often.
However, they’ll certainly provide protection from blisters and improve your grip, and the soft leather feels great. You also might like the added breathability, especially if you often find your hands getting sweaty when playing in warmer environments.
And while it may not be important to many players, we love the way these gloves look. The Vic Firth Drumming Gloves are very sleek and modern, perfect for the drummer who is aesthetically keen.
These full gloves tend to be a perfect fit for a lot of different size hands, and are available in sizes from small to extra large.
Best Drumming Gloves - ProMark Drum Gloves
If quality is what you’re after, then the ProMark Drum Gloves might be some of the best on the list. These full-fingered ProMark gloves are made with top-of-the-line, thinly-cut Cabretta leather, providing excellent protection. The first thing you'll notice when you try these gloves on is comfort.
Plus, Cabretta leather is a high-end material, meaning these gloves will likely last you longer than most other gloves on the market. And the leather has a soft, natural feel.
They offer tons of wrist support and grip, protecting you from injuries or strains over time. You can dial in the right feel with an adjustable velcro closure.
Each glove has eight strategically-placed pads on the fingers for added grip and comfort. The beauty of these pads is that they are thick enough to provide protection, though not too thick to mess with the sensitivity between the sticks and your hands. ON top of that, these comfortable gloves have an excellent grip that will spoil even the most experienced drummers.
Of course, having pads comes down to personal preference, so it’s totally up to how they feel to you!
Overall, if you are performing or recording as a drummer often, you’re going to need gloves that will hold up for years to come. For longevity, these ProMark Drum Gloves are some of the best on the market today. The one downside is that they are more expensive than many other options, though as people always say, you get what you pay for!
Carter Beauford Signature Drum Gloves
While Carter Beauford might be known best as the drummer for the Dave Matthews Band, he is also known by the drumming community as “that one drummer who’s always sporting gloves.”
He recently teamed up with the crew over at FootJoy to develop a custom pair of high-quality drumming gloves that look and feel great! You’ll find Carter’s signature embroidered on the pointer finger of each glove, giving you a luxurious look.
As for the material, these gloves use advanced performance leather, which will hold up for many years of use. We love the fact that Carter actually uses these gloves while he performs, which is a testament to his integrity and the integrity of these gloves. Way too many musicians and mix engineers slap their names on low-quality gear and software that they don’t use themselves, so we’re happy to see that’s not the case here.
The straps are quite comfortable, allowing you to wear your gloves as tight or loose as you prefer. You’ll also find small holes in the back, which makes these gloves very breathable. We’re glad they added this feature, as leather can get extremely hot and sweaty, especially when playing hour-long shows in small venues.
When you aren’t using your Carter Beauford Signature Drum Gloves on stage, you can take ‘em to the links to use a high-end golf glove.
Zildjian Touchscreen Drummers Gloves
These drum gloves from Zildjian provide a little bit of something for just about every drummer, which is probably why these are some of the best-selling drumming gloves on the market. Not only are they made of soft lamb skin, which feels like heaven on the hands, but they’re also incredibly affordable.
The back portion of these gloves utilizes a vented design that keeps your hands from getting sweaty, perfect for those who play multi-hour gigs on stage or in the studio.
These drum gloves also feature a quality Velcro material, which helps you maintain a solid grip on your sticks. You’ll also find a wrist support band on each glove, allowing you to keep them as tight as you prefer.
It’s important to note that lamb skin is definitely not the most durable material out there, and you’ll likely have to replace these gloves after some time if the stitching starts to come undone. However, that’s also normal for many stitched gloves, especially if they’re being used night after night.
With that said, they look great, feel great, and come at a great value. What’s not to love with the Zildjian Touchscreen Drummers Gloves?
From a Frustrated Producer in a Ragtag Bedroom Studio to Major Placements on TV Earning $1,000s!
My name is Evan, and I've been making music since around 3rd grade. I'm from San Diego, California, but I've lived in Washington, DC for the last 20 years.
While I still have a full-time day job, I have created systems that have allowed me to produce dozens of songs a year in my spare time.
My songs have been on Netflix, TV shows like the 90 Day Fiance, an award-winning indie film, and NPR’s “All Thing Considered.” They've also been streamed millions of times.
In addition to being a music producer, I am passionate about teaching people how they can make professional-sounding music and earn money licensing it, all in their spare time.
Thousands of musicians, like yourself, have trusted me to guide their musical journey. My YouTube videos have been watched nearly a million times. And my story has been in Forbes, Side Hustle Nation, and the Side Hustle School.
